Ground-contacting systems having 3D deformation elements for use in footwear

Abstract

The present invention discloses a ground-contacting system including 3D deformation elements having interiors filled with either a compressible fluid, such as a gas, or filled with other materials such as liquids, foams, viscous materials and/or viscoelastic materials. The 3D elements are designed to deform distort,l or deflect in three mutually orthogonal directions simultaneously and are associated directly with the surfaces that routinely come in direct contact with a ground surface such as the underside of the sole and side portions of the shoe upper near the sole. The 3D elements are also designed to decrease the amount of force transferred to the wearers feet, legs, back, and joints due to their ability to distort three dimensionally and to dissipate the energy of foot fall into thermal energy. The 3D elements are also designed to allow the shoe or foot to move a measurable amount relative to the ground-contacting surface in response to an applied force such as the forces encountered in walking, running, or any in other activity.

We claim:  
     
       1. A ground contacting system comprising: 
       a sole; and  
       at least one element depending from solely a portion of a bottom surface of the sole comprising:  
       a ground-contacting member having a ground-contacting surface;  
       at least one of a continuous sidewall and a top surface bonding the ground-contacting member to the portion of the bottom surface of the sole;  
       an interior defined by the portion of the bottom surface of the sole, the sidewall and the top surface of the ground-contacting member and including at least one hollow portion;  
       a perpendicular resistance to deformation relative to an axis perpendicular to the bottom surface of the sole; and  
       a parallel resistance to deformation relative to a deformation surface parallel with the bottom surface of the sole where the parallel resistance to deformation allows the sole to move relative to a ground-contacting surface of the ground-contacting member of each element during foot fall, wherein a portion of the at least one element attached to a portion of a side of the sole.  
     
     
       2. The system of claim  1 , wherein the relative motion of the sole to ground-contacting surface of the ground-contacting member of each element reduces force transference to a wearer's joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments. 
     
     
       3. The system of claim  1 , wherein at least one element is attached to a heel portion of the bottom surface of the sole. 
     
     
       4. The system of claim  1  further comprising a second element adjacent to the at least one element, wherein at least one of the parallel resistance to deformation and the perpendicular resistance to deformation results from contact of the at least one element with the adjacent element. 
     
     
       5. The system of claim  1 , wherein at least one element is attached to a heel portion of the bottom surface of the sole, at least one element is attached to a medial side of a forefoot portion of the bottom surface of the sole and at least one element is attached to a lateral side of the forefoot portion of the bottom surface of the sole. 
     
     
       6. The system of claim  1 , wherein the perpendicular resistance to deformation of each element is greater than the parallel resistance to deformation of each element. 
     
     
       7. The system of claim  1 , wherein the parallel resistance to deformation of each element is greater than the perpendicular resistance to deformation of each element. 
     
     
       8. The system of claim  1 , wherein the hollow portion of the interior comprises the whole volume of the interior. 
     
     
       9. The system of claim  1 , wherein the hollow portion of the interior comprises a plurality of hollow regions with a remainder of the interior filled with a viscoelastic material. 
     
     
       10. The system of claim  9 , wherein the regions are in fluid communication. 
     
     
       11. The system of claim  1 , wherein the parallel resistance to deformation of each element comprises a heel-to-toe resistance to deformation and a lateral-to-medial resistance to deformation and wherein the perpendicular, heel-to-toe, and lateral-to-medial resistances to deformation are mutually orthogonal and correspond to three orthogonal axes relative to the bottom surface of the sole. 
     
     
       12. The system of claim  11 , wherein the three resistances to deformation are different and each element deforms in all three directions simultaneously. 
     
     
       13. The system of claim  11 , wherein the three resistances to deformation are adjusted so that each element deforms substantially only in two directions. 
     
     
       14. The system of claim  11 , wherein the three resistances to deformation are adjusted so that each element deforms substantially only in one direction. 
     
     
       15. The system of claim  11 , wherein the lateral-to-medial resistance to deformation comprises a medial component and a lateral component. 
     
     
       16. The system of claim  1 , wherein a portion of the at least one element extends above a top surface of the sole. 
     
     
       17. A shoe comprising: 
       an upper;  
       a sole coupled to the upper; and  
       at least one element depending from solely a portion of a bottom surface of the sole comprising:  
       a ground-contacting member having a ground-contacting surface;  
       at least one of a continuous sidewall and top surface bonding the ground-contacting member to the portion of the bottom surface of the sole;  
       an interior defined by the portion of the bottom surface of the sole, the sidewall and the top surface of the ground-contacting member and including at least one hollow portion;  
       a perpendicular resistance to deformation relative to the bottom surface of the sole; and  
       a parallel resistance to deformation relative to the bottom surface of the sole so that the sole moves relative to a ground-contacting surface of the ground-contacting member of each element during foot fall, wherein a portion of the at least one element attached to a portion of a side of the sole.  
     
     
       18. A method comprising the step of bringing a shoe into and out of contact with a ground surface, wherein the shoe comprises: 
       an upper;  
       a sole coupled to the upper; and  
       at least one element depending from a portion of a bottom surface of the sole comprising:  
       a ground-contacting member having a ground-contacting surface;  
       at least one of a continuous sidewall and a top surface bonding the ground-contacting member to the portion of the bottom surface of the sole;  
       an interior defined by the portion of the bottom surface of the sole, the sidewall and the top surface of the ground-contacting member and including at least one hollow portion;  
       a perpendicular resistance to deformation relative to an axis perpendicular to the bottom surface of the sole; and  
       a parallel resistance to deformation relative to a deformation surface parallel with the bottom surface of the sole where the parallel resistance to deformation allows the sole to move relative to a ground-contacting surface of the ground-contacting member of each element during foot fall, wherein a portion of the at least one element attached to a portion of a side of the sole.